Keywords

Background & Aims

A common component to the transmural intestinal inflammation caused by IBD, hemorrhagic shock, ischemia/reperfusion injury, sepsis and intestinal manipulation is the recruitment of leukocytes into the gut muscularis, which is accompanied by ileus. Phagocytes are potent producers of ROS, but the direct effect of radicals on human intestinal muscle is undetermined. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms of action by which superoxide alters human intestinal muscle contractility.

Conclusion

We hypothesize that ROS generated by endogenous XO or phagocyte NADPH-oxidase within the inflamed muscularis plays a common role in numerous transmural inflammatory disease states. Furthermore, ROS appear to cause intestinal ileus via multiple mechanisms, which alter both muscle and enteric neural functions.

Authors’ Affiliations

(1)

Department of Surgery and Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA